Indiana
Purdue Takes Down Rival Indiana To Extend Big Ten Winning Streak, Highlighting College Baseball Roundup — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects – Baseball America
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Purdue catcher Connor Caskenette (Photo courtesy of Purdue)
Purdue on Friday continued its spectacular run with a big night at Alexander Field. The Boilermakers defeated Indiana, 7-4, to open the in-state rivalry series in style and take over sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings.
Purdue (31-15, 12-4) has won 11 straight Big Ten games, a streak that dates to March 31. With its win Friday and Illinois’ loss to Ohio State, Purdue now sits alone atop the conference. Illinois 26-16, 11-5) and Nebraska (29-15, 11-6) are a game behind, with Indiana (25-19-1, 10-6) and Michigan (24-22, 10-6) two games off the pace.
Purdue led Indiana for most of the game Friday. It took a 2-1 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run double from Connor Caskenette. Righthander Jordan Morales made that score hold up until the sixth inning when the Hoosiers tied the game at 2. But that stalemate didn’t last long, as the Boilermakers scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings. Indiana made one final push in the ninth, but righthander Aaron Suval snuffed out the rally to close out the 7-4 victory.
Caskenette went 2-for-4 and drove in five runs to lead the offense. Morales, Avery Cook and Suval largely shut down a powerful Indiana lineup, limiting them to four runs on eight hits.
It was a banner night on what is quickly becoming a banner season for the Boilermakers. They on Tuesday became the first Big Ten team this season to reach 30 wins. This is their first 30-win season since 2018, when they went 38-21. Purdue is in first place in the Big Ten in May for the first time since 2012, the last time it won the conference. Between its conference standing, its winning streak and an RPI that has now entered the top 60, Purdue can start thinking about making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018.
Purdue’s rise has been remarkable and unexpected. The Big Ten’s preseason coaches poll only ranks the top six teams in the conference and Purdue was left off that list coming into 2024. But coach Greg Goff has the Boilermakers operating at the top of the conference. They’re led by Caskenette (.322/.435/.631, 12 HR) and freshman Luke Gaffney (.412/.497/.727, 11 HR), who missed Friday’s game, as well a strong pitching staff that ranks second in the Big Ten in ERA (4.63).
The pieces are all coming together for Purdue. There’s still a long way to go in the season and the Boilermakers have a precarious hold on both first place and a spot in the NCAA Tournament mix. But they’re playing excellent baseball at the right time of the season and now have a chance Saturday to win a key series against their rivals. If they can do that, they’ll carry plenty of momentum into the final two weeks of the season.
Ace Watch
Friday night is for the aces. Here we highlight some of the best pitching performances of the day.
Braden Davis, LHP, Oklahoma: Davis threw seven scoreless innings to lead Oklahoma to an 8-0 victory at Texas Tech. The junior struck out eight batters and scattered two hits and two walks. Davis improved to 6-3, 4.43 with 84 strikeouts and 34 walks in 65 innings this season.
Caleb Granger, RHP, Florida A&M: In a rivalry showdown against Bethune-Cookman, Granger threw seven scoreless innings to lead FAMU to a 4-0 victory. The junior struck out seven batters and worked around six hits and three walks. Granger this season is 8-2, 2.71 with 60 strikeouts and 21 walks in 69.2 innings.
Aiden May, RHP, Oregon State: May threw 6.1 scoreless innings to help Oregon State to a 2-1 victory at Washington State. He struck out seven batters and scattered five hits and two walks, while extending his scoreless innings streak to 16. May is 4-0, 3.13 with 52 strikeouts and 14 walks in 46 innings this season.
Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas: Smith struck out 14 batters in six innings to help Arkansas to a 10-3 victory at Kentucky to open a showdown for first place in the SEC. The junior held the Wildcats to one run on three hits and two walks while reaching double-digit strikeouts for the ninth time in 12 starts this season. The All-American improved to 9-0, 1.36 with 125 strikeouts and 25 walks in 66 innings.
Tyler Stromsborg, RHP, Southern California: Stromsborg threw seven scoreless innings to help USC beat Cal, 5-1. He struck out four batters, walked none and worked around three hits in his longest start of the season. Stromsborg is 3-8, 4.85 on the year.
Evan Webster, LHP, Louisville: Webster threw seven scoreless innings to help Louisville to a 3-0 victory at Boston College. He struck out six batters and scattered four hits and a walk. Webster improved to 4-1, 3.17, with 53 strikeouts and 14 walks in 59.2 innings on the season.
Around The Horn
- LSU defeated No. 1 Texas A&M, 6-4, to earn a massive series-opening win in Alex Box Stadium. The Tigers pushed ahead with a four-run sixth inning, as Josh Pearson delivered a big two-run double. Relievers Fidel Ulloa (1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R) and Griffin Herring (2.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER) combined to quiet the Aggies’ offense in the late innings. LSU (30-17, 8-14) got a crucial victory for its postseason push and became just the second team this season to win a series opener against A&M (39-7, 15-7), joining Florida. The Aggies’ only series loss to date was to the Gators and they’ll need to fight back on the road to avoid another.
- Florida also got a crucial win for its postseason push, as it beat No. 3 Tennessee, 4-3, in the nightcap of a doubleheader. The Volunteers won the opener, 6-2. The Gators (24-22, 10-13) beat Volunteers ace Drew Beam thanks to a strong effort from freshmen Liam Peterson (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K) and Luke McNeillie (1 IP, 0 R, SV). Florida won an SEC game that wasn’t started on the mound by Jac Caglianone for the first time since March 29, which was five series ago. With Caglianone set to pitch Saturday, the Gators have a strong opportunity to end a four-series losing streak.
- Georgia Tech scored 11 runs in the final three innings of its nightcap at No. 4 Clemson to come back for a 14-12 victory. The Yellow Jackets were down to their final out of the game, trailing 12-11, when Mike Becchetti and Vahn Lackey hit back-to-back home runs to take the lead and stun the Tigers. While Clemson (35-10, 16-7) had won the opener, 11-4, it now faces a rubber game Saturday. Georgia Tech (28-16, 12-11) now has a golden opportunity for a key road series win as it tries to push into the NCAA Tournament mix.
- No. 13 NC State earned another impressive road win with an 8-7 victory at No. 5 Florida State. The Wolfpack jumped on Jamie Arnold early, scoring six runs on the lefthander in the first three innings. Alex Makarewicz (3-for-6) and Jacob Cozart both homered to lead NC State. The Wolfpack already own series wins against Duke, Clemson and North Carolina and are now one win away from another one against an ACC power.
- Troy routed No. 22 Louisiana, 16-5, in seven innings to extend its winning streak to seven games. The Trojans pounded out 13 hits and took advantage of six walks and six hit batters to score 16 runs, the most the Ragin’ Cajuns have allowed in a game this season. Louisiana (33-14, 17-5) still leads the Sun Belt, but Troy (33-14, 15-7) has cut the gap to just two games and will have the opportunity to further chip into the lead the rest of the weekend.
CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WKRC) – Authorities in Indiana found a semi trailer loaded up with hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine.
According to a statement issued by the Indiana State Police (ISP), 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California was taken into custody after nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine were reportedly found in the trailer of a commercial truck.
Per the statement, an ISP trooper seized the suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, authorities said.
The stop occurred Tuesday morning near the 37-mile marker, just east of Cloverdale, after a commercial motor vehicle was observed exceeding the posted speed limit.
Police said Singh displayed several indicators of possible criminal activity during the encounter. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers discovered multiple duffel bags and cardboard boxes in the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine.
Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at about $9 million.
Singh was taken into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.
He faces the following preliminary charges, per the post:
- Possession of a narcotic drug
Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County prosecutor.
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Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a priority, with troopers focusing on major highways to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the state.
For many Hoosiers living in rural Indiana, accessing health care can mean driving 30 minutes or even an hour to see a doctor or reach the nearest hospital. As workforce shortages and financial pressures challenge rural hospitals across the country, ensuring access to care close to home has become one of the most important health-care issues facing our state.
About one in four Indiana residents live in a rural community, yet access to health-care services in many of these communities continues to shrink. Across the nation, rural hospitals and clinics report extremely thin operating margins and often say workforce shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary care, maternity care and behavioral health.
When rural communities struggle to maintain health-care access, the impact doesn’t stay confined to small towns. It ripples across the entire health-care system, contributing to increases in chronic conditions, reduced preventative care for children, and worsening outcomes for the sickest patients.
Communities such as Greater Lafayette serve as a regional hub for care, with hospitals like IU Health Arnett caring for patients from surrounding counties across north-central and west-central Indiana. That role is something we are proud to fulfill. But when rural residents must travel long distances for care that should be available closer to home, it places increasing pressure on emergency departments, specialty clinics and inpatient services at larger regional hospitals.
In many cases, what might have been a routine appointment, preventive screening or early diagnosis in a local clinic becomes far more serious by the time a patient reaches a larger hospital. A missed screening can escalate into a medical emergency.
That reality makes strengthening rural health care more important than ever — not just for rural communities, but for the health of the entire state.
One of the most important steps we can take is investing in the next generation of health-care professionals who will care for these communities.
At IU Health, we are working directly with local schools and community partners to help build that workforce pipeline. Across the region, IU Health has partnered with the Greater Lafayette Career Academy and area school districts to introduce students to health-care careers earlier and provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring those careers to life.
Through these programs, students explore health-care pathways and earn certifications such as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or emergency medical technician while still in high school. Many participate in job shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences and mentorship programs, giving them valuable exposure to the field before they graduate. In fact, since the first cohort in 2023, IU Health has extended job offers to more than 70 students.
The goal is simple but powerful: help students see that meaningful careers in health care exist in their own communities and create pathways that allow them to stay and serve those communities.
For rural health care, this approach is critical. Students who train and develop personal mentorship connections locally are far more likely to remain in the region after completing their education. By helping young people build skills and connections early, we can create a sustainable workforce that strengthens health-care access in both rural communities and regional centers, including Greater Lafayette.
Since launching the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund in 2018, IU Health has invested more than $40 million in community grants supporting workforce development, education and school-based programs that build Indiana’s health-care talent pipeline. This includes funding for the Indiana Latino Institute, which placed Latino students in health-care internships, supported career pathways, and provided medical interpreter training and college coaching to communities across the state.
Our goal is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation, and this is one way we work toward that in partnership with our communities.
But workforce development is only part of the solution.
Strengthening rural health care will also require continued collaboration between health-care providers, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Expanding telehealth access, supporting rural hospitals and investing in primary care and behavioral health services are all critical steps toward ensuring patients can receive care close to home.
Greater Lafayette will always play an important role as a regional health-care center, providing specialized care and advanced services for patients across a broad region. But the long-term health of Indiana’s health-care system depends on maintaining strong local access points for care in rural communities.
When rural clinics and hospitals can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions and connect patients with the services they need early, the entire system works better.
Patients receive care sooner, communities stay healthier and larger hospitals can focus on the complex cases they are designed to treat.
Healthy rural communities do not just benefit the towns where they are. They strengthen Indiana’s entire health-care system by ensuring that every Hoosier — no matter where they live — has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.
When rural health care succeeds, all of Indiana benefits.
Gary Henriott is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and the retired CEO and Chairman of Henriott Group. He is the chair of the IU Health West Region board of directors and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and president of Lafayette’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — An Indianapolis mother is now facing criminal charges after her 2-month-old baby died in an apparent improper co-sleeping environment, according to investigators.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX 59/CBS 4, police were called to an area hospital on Sept. 19, 2024, following the death of 27-year-old Brooklyn Davis’ son. The boy had been found unresponsive in his family’s home early that morning, and Davis attempted CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.
The affidavit says the boy had been sleeping on Davis’ bed with his 6-year-old brother. Davis later showed investigators a video showing the baby sleeping chest down on the 6-year-old’s chest.
An autopsy concluded the baby’s cause of death was “sudden explained death of an infant” with an intrinsic factor, which included being “placed to sleep in a queen-sized mattress being shared with a 6-year-old sibling, along with numerous blankets and other miscellaneous items; discovered unresponsive in a prone position with his face turned to the side and partially covered with a blanket.”
A report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) indicated the boy had no known health issues and that Davis ran an FSSA-licensed day care and has “extensive training on child care and safe sleeping environments.”
Davis had been known to DCS prior to the baby’s death. The boy had been born marijuana-positive and, on July 2, 2024, Davis had reportedly signed a “Safe Sleep Safety Plan,” acknowledging she understood that the safest places for her baby to sleep were in a crib, pack-and-play or bassinet and warned that co-sleeping places the baby at risk of suffocation and sleeping areas should be kept free of blankets, pillows and other items. The plan also included a provision that Davis not use marijuana while caring for her children, but she told investigators during an interview that, the morning of her baby’s death, she had gone downstairs to smoke marijuana and left the children alone upstairs.
Davis’ two other children were removed from the home, and interviews with them revealed that co-sleeping with the infant happened often.
Investigators say they attempted to contact Davis several times after talking to her children.
“She called me on February 18, 2025, and said she didn’t do anything wrong, her baby died of SIDS,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Brooklyn never came in for an additional interview.”
Court records indicate the case was filed in March 2026. Davis was booked into jail on April 1 on three counts of neglect of a dependent. An initial hearing was held on April 7, and a bail review hearing is planned for Monday.
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